Can Acupuncture Relieve Sciatica Pain?

The Effect Of Acupuncture In The Treatment Of Sciatica

Sciatica pain is a debilitating chronic pain condition that can be caused by many things. Most people would agree that it’s one of the worst types of pain. And while many treatments can lessen the pain, acupuncture may be worth considering for those struggling with sciatica pain.

But why acupuncture is so recommended for sciatica pain? Is it worth it? A Chandler chiropractor will explain crucial information below so you can see if it’s the best treatment for your condition.

What Exactly Is Sciatica?

Sciatica is the name given to a symptom caused by problems in the lower back and pelvic region. It occurs when the sciatic nerve (with roots from L4 to S3) is compressed, impinged, or irritated, causing many symptoms, such as intense electric-type sensations, dull aching pains, tingling, numbness, and/or weakening anywhere between the buttock and foot. 

Usually, it just affects one side, but generally improves in 4-6 weeks.

Although you’d think that imaging is necessary, the current evidence doesn’t support it unless the symptoms are severe (affecting motor control, showing signs of infection, weight loss, etc.) or do not improve with conservative therapy within 4-6 weeks. 

Imaging is frequently necessary to examine for any structural impingement of a nerve root in the lower back. This is because imaging can provide a lot of false positives. After all, degenerative changes to the spine are frequent in people who are not experiencing any symptoms and are linked to the natural aging process.

Sciatica pain is a delicate condition that only some experts can analyze it. The recommendation is to treat it with a reliable Gilbert acupuncture treatment to lessen the symptoms.

Even when there are indications of a herniated disc impinging on a nerve root, most disc herniations resorb and become asymptomatic within eight weeks of commencement. Because of the hazards, it is better to treat sciatica and lower back pain cautiously and avoid surgery unless essential.

Physical therapy, rest, and pain management (prescribed and/or over-the-counter) are typical components of conservative treatment. Acupuncture may also be very beneficial.

Acupuncture For Sciatica & Lower Back Pain

A 2015 review of the literature on treatments for lower back pain and sciatica revealed that acupuncture may be more effective than stand-alone painkillers and may even boost pain relief when coupled with them. One study indicated that acupuncture can be up to twice as helpful as traditional treatments for people with chronic lower back pain.

In Chinese medicine, it’s necessary to treat you as a whole person, so while the primary goal is to relieve the pain, the specialist also looks to promote your body’s overall ability to heal and recover.

According to observations and medical studies, stress has a significant impact on how painful something feels and how it heals. Because of this, in addition to evaluating the pain and its causes, your East Mesa chiropractor also looks for ways to reduce life’s stresses, enhance sleep, and deal with other problems. You’re in a much better position to recover and feel better going forward with a more balanced neurological system.

To do this, we mostly use “distal acupuncture” treatments in points far from the problematic location. Since there is a much lower chance of your pain getting worse, this method is helpful for people with moderate to severe pain.

The long-term beneficial effects of acupuncture are progressive, so it may take a few treatments before you notice any changes. But generally speaking, we anticipate seeing signs of progress within the first four sessions. 

We don’t expect everyone to feel completely normal during those sessions, but we do look for evidence that you’re reacting to the acupuncture. If everything goes according to plan, we then develop a strategy to assist you in achieving your health objectives—ideally, pain freedom!

For people suffering from chronic pain for many years, this may involve months of treatment and continuous care (depending on severity), but we will regularly evaluate your progress to ensure you continue to benefit from treatment.

We advise scheduling acupuncture treatments with a trusted Mesa acupuncture treatment more frequently if you are experiencing acute pain. This is crucial to control the early discomfort and hasten the recovery process. As the body tries to reduce inflammation and mend the disc, patients recuperating from a herniated disc may need frequent treatments over a few weeks.

Finding A Reliable Mesa Acupuncture Treatment

As you can see, acupuncture might be what you need to treat your sciatica and lessen the painful symptoms. We invite you to contact BodyWorkz if you need a reliable acupuncture treatment. Our board-certified chiropractor in Mesa provides a comprehensive approach to pain relief methods. Contact us now to schedule an appointment!